Aeroplane



.1. F.\ BEAN Feb. l0. 19.25.

AEROPLANE Filed July 30, 1924 SheebS-Sheet l VVE/V701?. JAMES F BEAN. BY. M5L

Feb. 10.1925. 1,525,565

` J. F. BEANl AEROPLANE Filed July 30, 19 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WE/Wore.

' JAMES F BEAN.

Feb. 10. 1925.

` J. F. BEAN AEROPLANE 3 Sheets-Sh iled July 30, 1924 du, mi, l lll Ill /NVE/vToR. JAMES F BEAN. @Y m@ TTY.

ffl f Patented Feb. l0, 19.25.

JAMES r. BEAN, or n10 vIsrA, CALIFORNIA.

AEBorLANE. p

i' Application'led .Tnly 30, A1924. Serial No. 729,102.

v To all whom it mag/.comerm Be it known that I, JAMES FRANKnIN BEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Rio Vista, Solano County, and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in an Aeroplane, of which the following is a speciiica.- tion.

My invention relates to improvements in aero-planes wherein a air of resillently constructed and mounte wings,` composed of overlapping sections arranged to permit a passage of air therethrough during an upward stroke and preventing such passage of air during.y a downward stroke, operate in conjunction with .means for imparting a vertically flapping movement to said wings whereby through successive air pressure and release the aero-plane may be caused to ascend vertically.

The primary object of the present inven tion is to provide a new and improved aeroplane. 1

Another object of the inventoi is to provide a new'and improved device of the character described provided with a pair of resilient mechanical wings to which a vertical iiapping movement is imparted, to simulate the flying of a bird.

A` further object of the present invention is to providel a new and improved aeroplaneV having a universally mounted propeller arranged to be rotated in a horizontal as well as variously and forwardly inclined planes to assist in the elevation as well as 'the forward Hight of the plane.

A still further object is to .provide new and improved means Vfor i'egulatin adjusting and controlling the degree o vertical flapping movement of the resilient wings whereby the tendency of said wings to ele# vate the plane vertically maybe controlled.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved aero-plane of simple, inex-4 pensive and eicient construction whereby a small plane suitable for individual use may be provided.

Still another object is to provide a new and im roved aero-plane capable of greater vertica elevation than present' types of aeroplanes whereby an aero-plane may be elevated'within a smaller area than is at present possible. y

'I accomplish these and /other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate simllar arts throughout the said specification and rawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved aero-plane, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a brokenplan view;

PAT-ENT bFFiCBT Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in sec-pv tion; l Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the overlapping structure of the wings; Fig. 5 is a broken detail of the means for moving the propeller to different inclina.

tions; v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken detailed view, partly in section, of one of the units for imparting a vertical' fiapping movement to thewings; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of Fig. 6. y

Referring to the drawings the lnumeral 1 is used to designate an open cigar shaped body frame across the top of which, and

.arranged transversely thereto are a plurality of `resilient members, 2, preferably three in number, which are composed of flexible or resilientl material, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth. y e

These members 2 are resiliently connected, in any suitable manner, to the top of the cigar shaped open body frame 1 and are d in themselves resilient so that Awhen they are moved out of a normal position there will be a tendency, on account of such resilency, to return to normal position.

Arranged transversely to the members 2 are a plurality of sections or leaves 3 firmly attached in any suitable manner on their inner edges, that is the side-adjacent the body 1, to the members 2, while their other or outer edges are overlapping the next outer adjacent sections on the under sides thereof. These sections 3 are resilient or flexible and normally lie in their overlapping positions in order to present a substantially continuous surface. The eifect of this novel arrangement is that when a ver tically flapping movement is imparted to the wings constituting the members 2 and sections 3 a passage of air will be permitted through saidy wings.or sections 3' during resilient will readily move away -on their free or outer edges from the adjacent sections 3, as disclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and thereb pass through said wings, wh1 e during a ownward vertical movement of said wings the air resistance will press the free or outer edges of the sections 3 more firmly against the adjacent sections 3 and thereby effectively close said sections and present a substantially continuous surfaceandthereby prevent a passa e of air through said wings during said ownward stroke.

The result of this arrangement is that during a downward stroke of the wings the sections 3 will be pressed against the air and on account of said resistance there will be a' tendency on the part of said wings to elevate vertically the aeroplane.

A fiapping movement is imparted to the wings by means of connecting rods 4 which are in turn connected at their upper ends to suitable bearings 6 connected in turn to one of the members 2. The lower ends of the connecting rods 4 are similarly connected to suitable bearings 7 on wrist pins. 8 rigidly mounted u on and projecting from suitable slides 9 slldably mounted within discs 11 which are in turn mounted upon a pair of r horizontally disposed shafts 12, one on each side of a depending portion 14 of the body frame l. 4

The back of each slide 9 is provided with a rack or teeth 16 which are engaged by the teeth 17 of a sector 18 pivotally mounted upon and rotating with the discs 11, said sector being provided with a bifurcated and slotted lever 19 whose slot slidably engages a pin 21 on a sleeve 22 slidably mounted upon each shaft 12.

Each sleeve 22 is provided with a rotata bly mounted collar 23 having diametrically opposed pins 24 engaged by a slotted arm 26 connected to one end of longitudinally disposed rods 27, one on each side of the aeroplane or body 1, the opposite ends of said rods 27 being provided with suitable operating levers 28 arranged to engage a suitable notched sector 29 for holding the wrist pin 8 to an adjusted position.

By moving the lever 28 in one direction along the sector 29 the arm 26 will move the sleeve 22 along the shaft 12 which movement of said sleeve 22 will cause the lever 19 of the sector 18, to be actuated and thereby move the slide 9'in a direction which will move the wrist pin 8 thereon nearer the center of the rotatinfr disc 11 and thereby decrease the throw of said wrist pin 8 and consequently a shorter flapping movement to the wings.

As each lever 28 is operable independently of the other it is obvious that the degree of vertical flapping movement of each wing may be controlled and adjusted independ-Y ently of the other wing. means. of this novel arrangement by imparting a greater movement to one wing than to the other a.

greater lifting as well as propulsion will be imparted to one sideof the aero-'plane than to the other side thereof and the result will be that one side of said aero-plane will move 4faster than the other thereby providing an effective means for steering the craft during flight.

he repulsive effect of the wings is provlded y reason of the several resilient orv A suitable depending frame work 31 car ries a motor 32 and a lower frame 33 provided at the front end with suitable wheels 34 and a tailskid 35. A suitable seat 36 is provided to support the pilot.

The inner end of each shaft 12 is provided with suitable bevel gears 37 which mesh with a smaller pinion 38 on a vertically disposed shaft 39 having a beveled pinion 41 on its lower end meshing with a gear 42 driven by the motor 32. On the upper end of the vertical shaft 39 I have provided a universal joint 43 connected in turn to a shorter shaft 44 having a suitable propeller 46 mounted upon its upper end and normally rotating above the wings and body frame in a horizontally disposed plane, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The upper shaft 44 is provided with n. suitable bearing block 47 provided with lugs 50 which engage an arcuate slot 51 within van arcuate member 52 mounted upon the up er forward portion of the open ciofar shaped irame member 1, as disclosed in Jlligs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

This bearing block is mounted rigidly upon the upper end of a pair of parallel arms 48 which are pivotally mounted as at 49 upon the top of the body frame 1, as disclosed in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings. The arms 48 are provided with extensions or arms 53 arranged transversely to the arms 48, said extensions 53 being connected by means of a suitable rod 54 to a bell' crank 56 in turn connected by a suitable connecting -rod 57 to an operating lever 58.

Normally the propelleris arranged to rotate within a horizontal plane to exert a downward thrust upon the atmosphere. When the ropeller 46 is rotating the blast of air directe upon a .portion of the upper surface ro uced `thereby will of course be ously descrl .peller 46 will not ten by the resulting air pressure, to' hold the wings and the aeroplane onto the ground or, for'it downwardbut on the contra will tend to elevate t e aero-plane vertic ywhen operated-'in conjunction with the flapping movement of the wings as hereinbefore set forth.`

ABy moving the lever 58 along its notched sector -59 thearms48, whose pivotal mt is alignedwith the ivotal center o the universal joint-.'43 on t e vertically disposed propeller shaft` 39, will move the up er portion 44 of the shaft 39 andthe prope er 46 on the toplthereof forwardly of the plane and alter t e lane of rotation of said .propeller 46 rom, a horizontal. lane to a forwardly inclined plane whlc inclined plane when the said propeller is rotating, have a tendency to assist the repulsive eort of the wings, as hereinefore described, and move the aero-plane forwardly. The aero-plane is provided preferably at the rear end of the bod frame 1 thereof, with horizontal and 'vertlcal rudders 6l and 62, b means of which the course of the aerop ane may be controlled, when in flight, by means of the usual rudder connections, not shown.

In operation the motor rotates the vertically disposed shaft 39 and the propeller 46 to exert a downward thrust and'therebyv elevate the aero-plane. This downward thrust is further assisted by the flapping movement of the win which flapping movement is actuated at its greatest capacity during the early stages of elevation of the plane. This flapping will continue, together with the rotation of the propeller 46, until the aero-plane has reached a desired elevation at which time the flapping movement of the wings is decreased by means `of the lever- 28 until the ascent of the plane is checked.

The lever 58is then operated to move the propeller 46 into a forwardly inclined plane which will produce a backward thrust of the air blast from said propeller and this backward thrust, in con]unction with the flapping motion of the resilent wings, will tend to move the aero-plane forwardly.

As hereinbefore set forth the aerolane may be steered by independently a justing and controlling the degree of movement of. either wing so that vone wing will Hap through a greater are than the other thereby producin a greater propulsiva eiort on one side of t e aerolane than on the other which will natura y cause that side to move forwardly at a greater rate of speed' than the other side and thereby cause the aeroplaneto travel in a circle, or change its course. This steering elort may be materially'assist'ed by the vertical rudder 62 in the usual manner. v

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent -isy 1. An aero-plane comprising a body frame; wings mounted upon each side of the bod and resiliently connected thereto and to eac l other g'means for imparting a flapping movementv to said wings; means for controlling said last mentioned means for increasingor decreasin vthe amount of said flap ingmovement; an va universally mounte propellerA mounted above the body and arranged'to be held to rotate in a horizontal plane, to elevate said aerolane vertically, with the assistance of-'the apping movement of the wings, and also to be inclined forwardly to assist in moving said aero-plane forwardly.

2. An aero-plane comprising a bod-y frame; resilient wings mounted upon each side of said body and Vresiliently connected thereto and to each other;` means for impartin a vertical flapping movement to said wmgs; means for controlling the moving means of said wings to increase or decrease the amount of said flapping movefment; and a propeller universally mounted above said body and wings and arranged to be rotated in a horizontal plane 4to assist the wings in elevating the aero-plane verti- `cally and also arranged to be rot-ated in 100 varlous. planes inclined forwardly of the aero-plane to assist in moving said plane forwardly. l

3. An aero-plane comprising an open body frame; resilient wings mounted upon each 105 side of said body and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said wings being arranged to permit a passage of air therethrough when moving upwardly and to pre-- vent a passage of air whenmoving down- 110 Wardly; means for imparting a vertical flapping movement to said win s; means for adjusting and controlling t e degree of vertical movement of said apping motion;

a propeller universallyl mounted above the I body and wings and arranged to be rotated in a, horizontal plane to assist the wings in elevating said aero-plane vertically, said propeller being also arranged to rotate in var1ously forwardly inclined planes to move 120 the aero-plane forward.

4. An aero-plane comprising an open body frame; resilient wings mounted upon `each side of said body and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said win being arranged lto permit a passage of a1r therethrough when moving upwardly and to prevent a passage ,of air when moving downwardly;- means for imparting a vertical ilapping movement to said wings; 130

means for adjusting and controlling tlie degree of vertical movement of said flapping motion; a propeller universally mounte above the body and win s and arranged to vbe rotated in a horizonte plane to assist the wings in elevating said aero-plane vertically, said propeller being also arranged to rotate in variously forwardly inclined planes to move the aero-plane forward; and means for imparting movement to the propeller and the wing-fiapping means.

5. An aero-plane comprislng an open ci ar-shaped body frame; resilient wings resiliently mounted upon each side of the said body frame and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said wings comprising overlapping resilient sections arranged to prevent afpassage of air therethrough when said wings are moved downwardly and to permit a passage of air when said wings are moved u wardly .whereby a flapping movement o said wings will tend, through the medium of' air resistance, to elevate said aero-plane; means for imparting vertical movement to said wings; means for adjusting and controlling the degree of vertical flapping of saidwings; a ropeller universally mounted above the bo y frame and wings and arranged to rotate in a horlzontal plane to assist the flapping of the wings to elevate the aero-plane vertically, said propeller being also arranged to rotate in variously forwardly inclined planes to move said aeroplane forward.

6. An aero-plane comprising an open cigar-shaped body frame; resilient Wings resiliently mounted upon each side of the said body frame and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said wings comprising overlapping resilient sections arranged to prevent a passage of air therethrough when said wings are moved downwardlyand to permit a passage of air when said Wings are moved upwardly whereby a fiapping movement of said wings will tend, through the medium of air resistance, to elevate said aero-plane; means for imparting a vertically flapping movement to said wing; means for adjusting and controlling the degree of vertical flapping of said wings; a propeller universally mounted above the body frame and wings and arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane to assist the flapping of the wings to elevate the aero-plane vertically, said propeller being also arranged to rotate in variously forwardly inclined planes to move said aero-plane forward; and means for imparting movement to the propeller and to the wing flapping means.

7. Au aero-plane comprising an open cigar-shaped body frame; resilient Wings resiliently mounted upon each side of the body frame and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said wings comprising laterally disposed resilient over-lapping sectionsl arranged to permit the passage ofair through said wings when moved upwardly. and to prevent a passage of air when said wings are moved downwardly whereby a appin movement of said wings, through thcA me ium of air resistance, will tend to elevate said aero-plane vertically; means for imparting a vertically flapping movement to said wings; means for regulating and controlling the degree of the vertical Happing movement of said wings whereby the tendency to elevate said aero-plane may be regulated and controlled; and a propeller arranofed to move the aeroplane forward.

8. Rn aero-plane comprising an open cigar-shaped body frame; resilient win s resiliently mounted upon each side of the ody frame and resiliently connected thereto and to each other, said wings comprising 1atorally disposed resilient overlapping sections arranged to permit the passage of air through said wings when moved upwardly and to prevent a passage of air when said wings are moved downwardly whereby a flapping movement of said wings, through the medium of air resistance, will tend to elevate said aeroplane vertically; means for imparting a vertically flapping movement to said wings; means for regulatin and 'controlling the degree of the vertica fla ping movement of said wings whereby e tendency to elevate said aero-plane may be regulated and controlled; and a ropeller arranged to move the aero-plane orward; and means for impartinor movement to the wing flapping means and to said propeller.

9. An aero-plane comprising an open cigar shaped body frame; a plurality of resilient members arranged transversely to said body frame and resiliently connected thereto; a plurality of resilient overlapping and transversely disposed sections each secured at one edge thereof to the resilient members and each section having its other edge overlapping the adjacent section on the under side thereof to provide wings arranged to permit a passage of air therethrough during an upward movement and to prevent such passage during a downward movement of said wings; means for imparting a vertical flapping movement to said wings; means for adjusting and controlling the degree of vertical flapping movement of said wings; a propeller universally connected above the frame body 'and wings and arranged to rotate in various planes to assist in elevating and driving forward the aero-plane.

l0. An aero-plane comprising an open cigar shaped body frame; a plurality of resilient members 'arranged transversely to said body frame and resiliently connected thereto; a plurality of resilient overlapping and transversely dis osed sections each se* cured at one edge t ereof to the resilient members and each section having its other edge -overlapping thel adjacent section on the under side vthereof to provide wings arranged to permit a passage of air therethrough during an upward movement and to prevent such passage during a downward movement of said wings; means for imparting a vertical flapping movement to said wings; means'for adjusting and con-` trolling the degree of vertical apping movement of sald Wings; a propeller universally connected above the frame body and wings and arranged to rotate in various planes to assist in elevating and driving forward the aeroplane; and meansv for imparting movement tothe propeller and to the wing moving'lineans.

11. An aero-plane comprising an open cigar shaped body frame; a plurality of resilient members arranged transversely to said bodygvframe and resiliently connected thereto; a plurality of resilient overlapping and transversely disposed sections each secured at one edge thereof to the resilient members and each section having' its other edge overlapping the adjacent section on the under side thereof to provide wings arranged to permit a passage of air there` through during an upward movement and to prevent such passage during a downward movement of said wings; means for imparting a vertical flapping movement to said wings; means for adjustingl and controlling the degree of vertical napping movement of said wings; a propeller uni-4 versally connected above the frame body and wings and arranged to rotate in various planes to assist in elevating and driving forward the aero-plane and suitable horizontal and vertical rudder elements pivotally connected to the rear end of the body frame for steering the aero-plane.

1 2. An aero-plane comprising a body frame; Wings mounted upon. each side of the body and resiliently connected thereto and each other;` means for imparting 'a flapping movement to said wings; means for controlling said last mentioned means independently for each wing to increase or decrease the amount of movement vertically of each wing whereby a :apping movement maybe 1m arted to one wing than to the other where y a steering effect may be obtained; and a universally mounted propeller arranged to rotate above the body and wings in a horizontal as well as in variously forwardly inclined angles to assist the Win s in elevating and propelling forward saidl aero-plane.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature. JAMES F. BEAN.

eater vertical 

